Outside pipe cutter



June 5, 1928. 1,672,330

|. J. MCCULLOUGH I OUTS IDE PIPE CUTTER Filed July 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet lBY 7w lbw/27% A TTORNE .YS

PATENT OFFICE.

IRA J. HCCULLDUGH} OF WALNUT PARK, CALIFORNIA.

oursnm PIPE cu'r'rnn.

Application filed July 7,

This invention relates to a tool ada ted to be passed over tubularmembers suc as pipes, casings and the like, and then to be manipulatedso as to sever the same. More particularly, the present invention mayembodied in a tool for cutting drill pipe in wells. in many instances,drill pipes become stuck in the well hole and it is neces-- sary oradvisable to part the string of pipe at a point below the surface. Thepresent invention is adapted for such use, it being placed over a pipeand lowered'in the hole to the place the cut is to be made, thenmanipulated to make the cut and withdrawn.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a cutter of thecharacter described which may be lowered over a pipe to be cut by meansof the usual wash string and the cutters projected by, rotation of thetoolin one direction and retracted by rotation in the other direction. Amore specific object of this invention is the provision of a tool of thecharacter described which has a cutter carrier adapted to embrace thepipe, cutters mounted thereon projectable inwardly from said carrier,and

an actuator for projecting said cutter operable by rotation of the toolbod -whi ch which may be efiected by means of t e usual wash string'loywhich the tool is rais'edand lowered in the hole. 1

With .theforegoing objects and other objects and. correspondingaccomplishments in view, the present invention consists in the featuresof construction, combination and ar-' rangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which:

It 1g. 1 is an elevation partly in sectlon through a complete toolshowing it in position over a drill pipe and ready t'or performing thecutting operation, the section through the shell of the toolloeing onthe "ine 1-1 of 2; Figs. 2, 3, and d are sections as seen upon the linescorrely nu. ered in Fig. 1 the blades .ing position, andFig. 2 a ie;Fig. 5 is a section 8 showing the blades retracted; 6 a modified form ofthe n; and Fi 7 is an axial section as seen the line -4 of Fig. 6.

Referring with. more particularity to the rawing and especially Fig. 1,a drill pipe string which is to be severed is indicated genhy 1G. It isformed of joints of on an corresponding 1927. Serial No. 203,892.

pipe connected by collars, one of which is indicated by 11. Disposedover the drill pipe is the cutter.

A tubular collar 12 is counterbored and internally threaded to receivethe pipe'13 of the wash string or pipe by which the cutter ismanipulated. Collar 12 is externally threaded and attached thereto is ashelll; carrying at the bottom a shoe 15. Secured to the shell andresting upon the shoe'is a blade carrier 16 of ring form. The ring iscut away at its upper portion to form spaces 17 for knife cutters.Mounted upon longitudinally extended pivot pins 18 are cutter unitscomprising bodies 19 to which are secured blades 20. The blades aredetachably mounted upon the bodies 19 by means of pins, one ofwhichindicated by21, extends upwardly and is engaged by a leaf spring 22. Theother end of the leaf spring is mounted in fixed position upon thecarrier ring 16 and tends to swing the blade outwardly. The noses of theblade units are inclined as best indicated by 23 in Fig. 2. Thestructure just described comprises a cage having the cutter units.pivotally mounted thereon so that they may be swun to and from the workto be severed, namely, the pipe 10.

For the purpose of projecting the knives nwardly into cutting position,an actuator is provided. The actuator comprises a ring 24 havingdepending from its lower side wedges 25. Thesewedges have inclined faces26 for confronting the corresponding inclined faces 23 of. the cutterunit. EX- tending upwardly from the ring are spring fingers 27' havingteeth at their upper ends extending lengthwise. The ends of the fingelsare arranged to engage the work so as to trictionally and yieldablygrasp the same and resist turning.

Suppose a drill pipe string is'to be out, the tool is lowered over thedrill pipe string by means of the wash string 13. it is moved to theposition which the cut is to he made. Obviously, the tool would slipover the rili string, the fingers 2"! sliding over the jointand-coupling. it hen the tool is in position,

it is manipulated to perform the cut, by

turning in a right hand direction. This causes the cage with its cutterto he moved tending to drag along the actuator. Movement or" theactuator is resisted by contact of the fingers 2? with the spring. Thewedges are forced against the noses of the cutter unit, and move thelatter inwardly against the drill string so that the knives are inposition to cut by continued rotation of the tool. The drill pipe havingbeen out, the tool is backed up so that the wedges are retracted and thesprings 22 move the blade outwardly to their [non-working position. Thesevered pipe and tool may then be elevated, or in some instances, thetool may-be elevated by forcing it upwardly, the spring fingers 27either'breaking or moving over the coupling.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a modification of the tool is shown, the onlydifference residing in the spring fingers attached to the actuatingring. In order to shorten the description, parts in Figs. 6 and 7corresponding to those shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are marked withcorresponding reference numbers having the letter a added. However, thespring fingers 27 are bent upwardly at the ends as indicated by 28 so asto clear the collars 11" and ride over them, if it is desired to movethe cutter upwardly. With structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the severedupper portion of the string of pipe must be raised by separatemeans.

It will be noted that the device is operable at an place in the string.Cutters have hereto ore been made which depend upon spring fingers orarms or equivalent devices abutting the under shoulder of, a collar andbeing moved longitudinally to project the cutters. The present structure1s only dependent upon the drag in a rotary direction, and Is notdependent upon any protuberance upon the string ofpipes to be cut forits operation.

. What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a cage adapted to be rotated,cutter units mounted thereon so as to be projectable from retractedosition toward the work into cutting position, an actuator mounted onsaid cage for turning movement thereon and for rotation therewith andincludin means to project said cutter units upon relative rotation ofsaid cage and actuator in one direction, and means to yieldably resistturning of said actuator-upon rotation of said cage.

2. In a device of the class described, a cage adapted to be rotated,.cutter units mounted thereon to be projectable from re tracted ositiontoward the work into cutting posltion, an actuator mounted on said cagefor turning movement thereon and for rotation therewith and includinmeans to project said cutter units upon re ative rotation of'said cageand actuator in one direction, and members on said actuator engageablewith said work to yieldably resist turning of said actuator uponrotation of said ca 6.

In a device of the class described, a cage adapted to be rotated, cutterunits pivotally secured to said cage so as to be projectable fromretracted position toward the work into cutting position, an actuatormounted on said cage for turning movement thereon and for rotationtherewith and including peripherally inclined wedges en'- gageable withsaid units so that upon relative rotation of said cage and-actuator inone direction said units will be projected, and means to yieldablyresist turning of said actuator upon rotation of said cage.

4. In a device of the class described, a cage adapted to be rotated,cutter units pivotally secured to said cage so as to be projectable fromretracted position toward the work into cutting position, an actuatormounted on said cage for turning movement thereon and for rotationtherewith and including peripherally inclined wedge means engaged withsaid units so that upon r'elative rotation of said cage and actuator inone direction said units will be projected, and members on said actuatorengageable with said work to yieldably resist turning of said actuatorupon rotation of said cage.

5. In a device of the class described, a cage adapted to be rotated,cutter units mounted thereon to be projectable from retracted positiontoward the work into cutting position, an actuator mounted on said cagefor turning movement thereonand for rotation therewith and includingmeans to project said cutter units upon relative rotation of said cageand actuator in one direction, and spring fingers secured at one oftheir ends to said actuator and free at the other for graspin 'said workto yieldably resist turning of said actuator thereon.

6. In a. device of the-class described, a cage adapted to be rotated,cutter units mounted thereon to be rojectable from-retracted positiontoward t e work into cutting position, an actuator mounted on said cagefortur'ning movement thereon and for rotation therewith and includingmeans to project said cutter units upon relative rotation of said cageand actuator in one direction, and spring fingers secured at one oftheir ends to said actuator and free at the other ends for grasping thework to yieldably resist turning of said actuator thereon, the ends ofsaid fin ers being inclined to ride upwardly over t e projections onsaid work. 7

7. In a device of the class described, a cage, a cutter unit mountedthereon to be moved laterally so as to be moved against or awa from thework, an actuator mounted on sai cage for rotatable movement, therebeing wedge means on said actuator having a laterally extending inclinedsurface engageable with said unit whereby to move said unit laterallyupon relative rotation of said cage and actuator, and means on saidactuator for grasping said work to resist turning of said actuatorthereon.-

8. In a device of the character described, a cage, a cutter unit mountedthereon to be moved laterall so asto be moved against or away from t ework, an actuator mounted on said cage'for rotatable movement, therebeing wedge means having a laterally extendin inclined surface on saidactuator enga eabIe with said unit whereby to move sai unit laterallyupon relative rotation: of said cage and actuator, and s ring fingers onsaid actuator for frictional y contacting the work so as to yieldablyresist turning of said actuator.

9. In a device of the character described,

a cage adapted to be rotated, cutter units clined to ride upwardly overthe projections on said work.

10. In a device of the class described, a body of shell form forembracing the work to be severed, cutter units pivotally secured to thewallet said body on axes extending longitudinally of the body whereby tobe swung to and from the work, an actuator mounted in said body forrotatable,movement thereon, there being inclined surfaces onsaid-actuator for each unit disposed to engage the latter whereby toswing said unit inwardly upon relative rotation of said shell andactuator, and means on said actuator for grasping said work to resistturning of said actuator thereon:

1 1. In a device of the class described, a

body of shell form for embracin the work to be severed, cutter bladesivota ly secured to said body on longitudinal y extending axes wherebyto be swung inwardly and outwardly from the work, an actuator mounted insaid bodfor rotatable movement, there bein inclined surfaces on saidactuator for said blades disposed to engage the latter whereby to swingsaid blades inwardly upon relative rotation of said body and actuator,and means on said actuator for grasping said work .to resist turning ofsaid actuator thereon.

12. In a device of the class described, a

body of shell form for embracing the work to be severed, peripherallyspaced cutters pivotally secured to said body on longitudinallyextending axes whereby to be swung inwardly and outwardly from thework,.an actuator ring mounted withinsaid body for rotatable movementthereon, there being an inclined surface on said ring for each cutterdisposed to engage the latter whereby to swing said cutter inwardly uponrelative rotation of said body and actuator in one direction, and meanson said actuator for grasping said work to resist turning of saidactuator thereon.

13. In a device of the class described, a body of shell form, cutterblades peripherally s'paced on said body and mounted on longitudinallyextending axes whereby to be swung inwardly and outwardl from the workto be severed, an actuator ring mounted within said body for rotatablemovement thereon, said ring having a wedge for each blade disposed toengage the latter whereby to swing said blade inwardly upon relativerotation of said body and actuator, means on said actuator for graspingthe work to resist turning of said actuator thereon.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 23rd day of June, 1927.

IRA J. MCCULLOUGH.

